Our Preferred Network Solution
Explore the proposed future of transportation in Burlington
Explore the proposed future of transportation in Burlington
In response to the Problem and Opportunity statements, the technical team has developed a Preferred Network Solution. This is a proposal for what Burlington’s transportation networks could look like in the future.
In this section, we explore the future of transportation in Burlington, starting with the mode share shift the IMP is striving to achieve in order to reach our targets, and ending with the Preferred Network Solution.
To fulfill the vision, values, and goals of the IMP, Burlington will need to shift the proportion of trips that are made by car to other modes of travel - also known as the mode share.
The Preferred Network Solution identifies areas of the city where infrastructure investments are recommended to shift the mode share from cars towards walking, cycling, and taking transit.
Transportation policies and programs will also help support the mode share shift. These will be developed in a future stage of the IMP, once a Network Solution is endorsed by Council.
The pie charts represent the existing mode share in Burlington - how people move through the City today - and the target mode shares by 2051, which is the horizon year for the IMP.
The Preferred Network Solution is a combination of priority networks - networks of streets that prioritize each mode of travel: walking, cycling, transit, cars and trucks. The priorities of each street are dependent on that street’s location within our city, the connections it offers, and the surrounding land uses that each streets passes through. Some streets may also be part of more than one priority network.
All modes of travel will be possible on any street, whether or not it’s part of that mode’s priority network.* However, the priority networks represent streets where certain modes will have a higher level of priority than others.
The following pages show the pedestrian, cycle, transit, truck, and car priority networks individually, prior to combining them to show the overall Preferred Network Solution.
*Unless otherwise prohibited. For example, streets where large trucks are not permitted.
The IMP aims to increase the proportion of trips taken by pedestrians from 5% to 9% by 2051.
To do this, Burlington will need to:
Streets that have pedestrian priority will have more space dedicated to pedestrians and a higher standard for urban design to make walking safe, convenient, and more pleasant.
This type of pedestrian infrastructure could be:
The image on the side shows an example of a pedestrian priority street design with wider sidewalks, a buffer zone that contains street furniture, and a raised crosswalk with curb extensions.
Explore the Pedestrian Priority Network on this map.
The IMP aims to increase the proportion of trips taken by cycling from 1% to 6% by 2051.
To do this, Burlington will need to:
Streets that have cycling priority will include cycling infrastructure that makes cycling feel safe and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities
Depending on the street, the volume of cars, and the speeds at which they travel, this type of cycling infrastructure could be:
The image on the side shows an example of a cycling priority street design that physically separates bikes from traffic with a parking lane and a vegetative buffer.
Explore the Cycling Priority Network on this map.
The IMP aims to increase the proportion of trips taken by transit from 3% to 15% by 2051 (12% for local trips and 20% for trips between Burlington and other municipalities).
To do this, Burlington will need to:
The images on the following side show examples of transit priority street designs with:
*Transit-only lanes would only be implemented in corridors where the ridership and the bus frequency justifies it. The City would increase transit frequencies along a corridor and make intersection efficiency improvements prior to building a new transit-only lane or taking a lane away from cars for bus-only use.
Streets that have transit priority could have:
a) A queue jump for buses at an intersection (pictured on the side)
Streets that have transit priority could have:
b) A bus-only lane that is available for general traffic outside of weekday peaks (pictured on the side)
Streets that have transit priority could have:
c) A permanent bus-only lane throughout the day (pictured on the side is an example of a street with a bus lane that also has cycling priority)
Explore the Transit Priority Network on this map.
NOTE: In some areas, full BRT infrastructure may not be feasible due to limited right-of-way (ROW). In these locations, the City would focus on operationally improving the efficiency of buses.
The IMP aims to decrease the proportion of trips taken by car from 90% to 70% by 2051. Cars will remain an important mode of transportation in Burlington, even with this reduction.
To maintain mobility for cars, Burlington will need to:
Explore the Car Network on this map.
The efficient movement of goods by truck is a key part of Burlington’s economic prosperity.
To improve mobility for trucks, Burlington will need to:
Explore the Truck Priority Network on this map.
The Preferred Network Solution is an integration of all the individual priority networks.
With the Preferred Network Solution, the City will focus on enabling a mode shift away from cars by making walking, cycling, and transit options that more people want to use. The City will widen streets to improve conditions for walking, cycling or transit users or to resolve safety concerns, but not for the sole purpose of increasing car capacity.
In locations where multiple priority networks overlap, the City may complete a corridor study or a design review when it is time to transform or build that street. These studies or reviews will identify a way to accommodate all the priorities within the street right-of-way (ROW) or identify the trade-offs that have to be made if there isn’t enough space between property lines.
Explore the Preferred Network Solution on this map.
Use the following buttons to toggle between the priority networks:
Click on the networks on the map to see what the future streets might look like.
We want to hear from you! Take the interactive mapping survey to tell us if you agree or if there is anything we have missed for the proposed priority networks for cycling, walking, cars, trucks, and buses. Your input is key to the design of a safe, accessible, sustainable, balanced and livable future of transportation in Burlington.
Your feedback will help us refine the Preferred Network Solution. Once refined, it will be brought before City Council as the Recommended Network Solution in December 2021, when Council will vote on whether to endorse it.
Once a future network is confirmed, project staff will transportation policies and programs that will support the infrastructure recommendations. They will also develop an Implementation Plan, which will identify project costs and the order that projects are to be completed in to make the future network a reality.
Do you have any questions about the IMP update or any of the material in this StoryMap? Please visit the project page or contact:
Kaylan Edgcumbe,
Manager of Integrated Mobility @ City of Burlington
905-335-7600 ext 7497
kaylan.edgcumbe@burlington.ca
Go to the next StoryMap: Future State of Transportation